40 years ago this season the most prolific and efficient offense ever assembled in college football convened in Norman, Oklahoma. Thanks to a book I picked up years ago, I have access to every article on every game played by Oklahoma in the decade of the 1970s published by the Daily Oklahoman. And I will share these articles with you because I think the offense of 1971 is something that should never be forgotten. I think the offense of 1971 should be treasured because it was a runaway locomotive barreling downhill over the overmatched defenses of the day. I'm typing these articles into Word and posting them here from there, so it will take me a while. Rest assured, I will complete it for you as time permits. I hope you have as much fun reliving the greatness of that team as I did learning about them as a kid. First, the pre-season polls and analysis.
AP PRESEASON POLL GAME PLAN Looks like the guys from Game Plan had their crystal balls properly calibrated.
One more amazing factoid about the 71 season: Nebraska was undefeated; OU lost only to Nebraska by 4; and, Colorado lost only to OU by 3 and Nebraska by 7. Final National rankings were Nebraska 1, OU 2, Colorado 3. Ponder on that for a moment. Talk with a Colorado player from that year and he can tell you that his team finished 3rd in the conference - and third in the Nation. Never been done by a conference before or since.
I'm just glad I was in Norman for the 2000 'Holer game and resurrection. Feel like your life is going nowhere. Hey poor, you don't have to be poor anymore. Bob Stoops is here! (Don't tell the devil) In the name of Bud (Alleluiah!) NO SEX UNTIL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
My dad was at that 1970 OU-Texas game with a horn fan. He told me that he told the guy, "You got us now...but what you saw is the beginning of something great." He was right.
Mildren & Pruitt each rushed for over 1000 yds. K-State had beaten OU twice in a row. OU won like 75-28. Mildren tackled 49 times in tx game & 14 were "slobber knockers" !! according to Frank Broyles after studying game film.
You must be thinking the wrong season. Both OU and NU stomped CU that season (45-17, 31-7) making it all the more amazing that CU finished #3.
MyT Oklahoma = Still having fun since the Run of '71. It all started for me after hearing the score of the OU/KSU game. It'll be 40 years of Sooner memories for me come this September. And who could forget the 472.4 yards per game rushing average (which is still the NCAA record)? BOOMER...... P.S. Thanks for sharing.
That stat is the first thing to pop into my head when I saw the title 1971.That was without a doubt the greatest rushing offense in CFB history.I would add that the 2008 OU offense is the greatest all around offense(total yards,points,points per game.
Well, thank you for posting. Made me look up some info and I found a good site: http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/DI/2010/2010Collegiate.pdf
The next installment will be a trip to Pittsburgh and the realization that something special may be at hand.
